University of Missouri

About GPC

What is GPC?

The Graduate Professional Council (GPC) is the official student government for all graduate, professional, and post-baccalaureate students at the University of Missouri (MU) in Columbia, Missouri. Since 1982, it has represented all the departments of the Graduate School and the schools of Business, Public Affairs (previously Public Administration), Law, Medicine and Veterinary Medicine. GPC is the voice of graduate and professional students to many of the decision making bodies at MU, including the Board of Curators and numerous faculty committees. Another function is the development of events such as the Research and Creative Activities Forum to showcase the innovations and talents of graduate and professional students. GPC also brings you captivating social events to give you an opportunity to meet fellow graduate and professional students.

There are many organizations at MU that address the needs of each school or department. Examples include the Student Bar Association (SBA) for law students, Medical Student Affairs Council (MSAC) for medical students, Graduate Student Association (GSA) for graduate students and the many departmental organizations. These other councils serve to represent the students of a school or department to the administration of that school or department. They may also organize social events or regulate other organizations of that particular school. The Graduate Professional Council is the representative umbrella organization for all graduate and professional students to the administration of the University and UM Board of Curators. Although the school councils have influence on the decisions of the individual schools, only GPC has influence in general policy decisions by the University or UM System affecting all graduate and professional students (issues such as fees, tuition, and health insurance). GPC has an annual budget to help fund the educational and social endeavors of its constituents. Students and organizations can request GPC funding for events, programs, and equipment.

How can I get involved with GPC?

There are a number of ways to become involved in the GPC General Assembly:

  1. As a department representative
  2. As an At-Large representative
  3. As a GPC representative to a campus committee
  4. As a Officer on the GPC Executive Board*
  5. As an Assistant Director to one of the Executive Board Officers*
  6. As the GPC Data Analyst*

*These are positions which receive financial support. This compensation is treated as income for services rendered and are treated as having work hours. Be advised that by being elected or appointed to one of these positions, this counts toward the hours worked each week. This may be relevant for visa-related work requirements. 

What is the General Assembly?
The legislative body of the Graduate Professional Council (GPC) is called the General Assembly. The General Assembly of GPC is comprised of representatives from all academic departments in the Graduate school as well as representatives from the Medical School, School of Law, College of Veterinary Medicine, the Business School, and the GPC executive council. GPC Representatives are required to attend the monthly GPC General Assembly meetings or to send a proxy in their place.

For more information about the General Assembly, click here.

When and where does the General Assembly meet?
GPC General Assembly meetings are held on the first Tuesday of every month, during the Fall and Spring semesters, from 6-8 pm in Leadership Auditorium of the MU Student Center. The meetings are open to all graduate and professional students so everyone has the opportunity to voice their opinions.

Representatives must attend General Assembly meetings to keep their Represented Areas in Good Standing. Click here for a list of all Represented Areas currently in Good Standing.

Department Representative
Each Represented Area is allowed one (1) representative per 100 students enrolled in the program in the GPC General Assembly. For example, a department with 75 students can have one (1) GPC representative. A department with 110 students can have two (2) GPC representatives.

Most departments select a GPC representative through their departmental graduate student association/organization (GSA/GSO). You can check with your departmental GSA/GSO about becoming your department’s GPC representative or you can email GPC directly at gpc@missouri.edu to find out if your department has a representative and how you can get involved. If your department already has a representative you can alternatively become an At-Large member.

Representatives must attend General Assembly meetings to keep their Represented Areas in Good Standing. Click here for a list of all Represented Areas currently in Good Standing.

At-Large Representative
Along with department representatives, the GPC General Assembly also has At-Large representatives. GPC allows one At-Large representative per 500 enrolled graduate/professional students. There are currently, approximately 7700 enrolled graduate/professional students at MU, so there are 15 At-Large representative seats in the GPC General Assembly. At-Large representatives are voted in at our General Assembly meetings. For information about becoming an At-Large representative email gpc@missouri.edu.
Committees
GPC General Assembly members serve on one of many internal committees. Click here for a list of current committees internal to GPC.

GPC General Assembly members also serve as GPC representatives on the Chancellor’s standing committees. These committees address topics ranging from tuition and fees and campus planning to parking and transportation and admissions. For more information on the Chancellors Standing Committees visit http://committees.missouri.edu. On occasion, we need more graduate and professional students to serve on these committees. If you are interested in serving on a committee, contact GPC at gpc@missouri.edu.

Executive Board Member
GPC has an executive committee of nine members: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Director of Professional Development, Director of Programming, Director of Communication, Director of National Affairs, and Director of State Affairs. The Executive Board and the Data Analyst meet weekly to discuss issues surrounding graduate and professional student concerns and to plan meetings of the General Assembly, Events, and various other items.

Each March and April during the normal meetings of the General Assembly (on the first Tuesday of the month), the Assembly will hear nominations for the next academic year’s Executive Board. All nominees must be present to accept their nomination. In April of each academic year there will be a vote for each position of the Executive Board. In May of each academic year, the next academic year’s Executive Board begins their one-year term, which ends the following May. 

Assistant Director
GPC has six Assistant Director positions, each of which report to at least one Officer of the Executive Board: Assistant Director of Student Affairs, Assistant Director of Fundraising, Quartermaster, Assistant Director of Professional Development, Assistant Director of Programming, and Historian. These positions are appointed by the Executive Board to serve for one academic year. Assistant Directors need not be a Department Representative or At-Large Representative, and do not have a vote within the General Assembly unless they are a Department Representative or At-Large Representative. 
Data Analyst
GPC has one Data Analyst position. This position is hired by the Executive Board during the summer prior to the academic year which the Data Analyst would work, and is paid for by funds allocated from GPC’s operating budget. Typically, in May the Executive Board will send out a call for resumes from qualified graduate and professional students. After an initial review, top candidates are selected for on-campus interviews for the position. After interviews, the Executive Board extends a contract offer to the Data Analyst to begin work in July through the academic year. The Data Analyst meets weekly with the Executive Board in all meetings, though does not have a vote in these meetings. The Data Analyst may elect to be a Department Representative or At-Large Representative and thereby have a vote within the General Assembly. 

 

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